Sohar: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sohar: The unemployment rate in Al Batinah North Governorate, which contains Sohar, was 4.5% in 2025 (2.7% for men and 10.9% for women), against 3.1% for Oman. The National Centre for Statistics publishes this by governorate only. That is joint 2nd highest of 19 wilayats covered on this site.
- Health in Sohar: Al Batinah North Governorate, which contains Sohar, had 5 government hospitals with 560 beds and 6 private hospitals with 245 beds in 2025; Oman had 62 government hospitals (6,962 beds) and 36 private hospitals (1,854 beds).
- Education in Sohar: Al Batinah North Governorate, which contains Sohar, had 458 schools, 7,361 classes, 202,291 students and 14,944 teachers in 2025/2026 (government, private and international schools, including kindergartens).
What is the population of Sohar?
The Wilayat of Sohar (Al Batinah North Governorate) had 293,446 registered residents at the end of December 2025, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information: 145,773 Omanis and 147,673 expatriates. That is 5.5% of the 5,359,557 people in Oman. That is 4th highest of 19 wilayats covered on this site.
Source: National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman) · saved copyHow many expats live in Sohar?
In the Wilayat of Sohar, 49.7% of registered residents were Omani and 50.3% expatriates at the end of 2025; across Oman the split was 56.7% Omani and 43.3% expatriate. That is 6th least Omani of 19 wilayats covered on this site.
Source: National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman) · saved copyIs the population of Sohar growing?
The registered population of the Wilayat of Sohar was +2.2% on a year earlier (287,094 at end-2024) and +4.6% on two years earlier (280,662 at end-2023); Oman as a whole was +3.8% over the two years. That is 8th fastest-growing of 19 wilayats covered on this site.
Source: National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman) · saved copyHow crowded is Sohar?
Al Batinah North Governorate had 939,746 people at the end of 2025 on 8,000 square kilometres, a density of 117.5 people per square kilometre against 17.3 for Oman. The Wilayat of Sohar accounts for 31% of the governorate's population.
Source: National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman) · saved copyHow big is Sohar compared with other wilayats?
The registered population of the Wilayat of Sohar (293,446) was 7.3% of the combined population of the 19 Omani wilayats covered on this site, which together hold 75% of Oman.
Source: National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman) · saved copyCities of a similar size in Oman
- As Seeb 594,155
- Bawshar 445,240
- Salalah 430,294
- Barka 249,479
- Mutrah 225,926
- As Suwayq 214,198
- Ibri 188,862
- Saham 177,024
- Al Amrat 156,507
- Nizwa 148,746
- Al Rustaq 141,249
- Sur 129,511
- Jaalan Bani Bu Ali 125,828
- Al Buraymi 123,459
- Al Mussanah 117,335
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Sources
- National Centre for Statistics and Information (Oman): Statistical Year Book 2026 (issue 54, data for 2025): Table 18-2, Schools, Classrooms, Students and Teachers by Governorate, 2025/2026 (pages 361-362), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 67371bf3473d…)
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